JP2011510218A - Compressor for fluid compression and method of manufacturing a compressor - Google Patents

Abstract

The scroll compressor for fluid compression includes a common terminal block for electrical connection. The compressor includes: a compression unit; a drive unit that operates to drive the compression unit to compress the fluid; a protection module; and power to the drive unit to enable operation of the compression unit And a power connector. A common terminal block provides connections to the protection module and the power connector for the compressor.

Description

  The present invention relates generally to scroll compressors for compressing refrigerant, and more particularly to electrical control boxes, electrical couplings, power supplies, and the like for such scroll compressors and / or other similar compressors. The protection module.

  A scroll compressor is a type of compressor and is used to compress refrigerant in refrigeration, air conditioning, industrial cooling and refrigeration applications and / or other applications that use compressed fluids. Such conventional scroll compressors are known, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,530 issued to Hasmann, U.S. Pat. No. 6,814,551 issued to Kammmoff et al., Issued to Kammmoff et al. U.S. Pat. No. 6,960,070 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,112,046 issued to Kamhoff et al., All of which are bitzers closely related to the present applicant. Has been transferred to the entity. Since the present invention discloses improvements that can be incorporated into these or other scroll compressor designs, US Pat. Nos. 6,398,530, 7,112,046, 6,814. , 551 and 6,960,070 are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

  As illustrated in these patents, conventionally, scroll compressors include an outer housing that houses the scroll compressor. The scroll compressor has first and second scroll compressor members. The first scroll compressor member is typically placed stationary and secured within the outer housing. The second scroll compressor member is provided so as to be raised above each base portion, and engages with each other to compress refrigerant between the provided scroll ribs. It is provided to be movable relative to the member. Conventionally, the movable scroll compressor member is provided such that an orbital path around the central axis is driven to compress the refrigerant. Usually, a suitable drive unit (typically an electric motor) is provided in the same housing to drive the movable scroll member.

  Conventionally, scroll compressors include a protection module and a power connector, which are typically housed in a control box that is mounted outside the housing of the scroll compressor. Engineers performing electrical work typically couple the control lead to the protection module and the power lead to the power connector separately. This is usually done well, but if the engineer doing the electrical wiring mistakes, an improper electrical coupling between the scroll compressor electrical equipment and the various leads will occur. If the leads are not connected correctly, the scroll compressor can be damaged. For example, when the scroll compressor is not connected properly and reversely operated, a vacuum state is generated between the plurality of scroll compressor bodies, and thereby the plurality of scroll compressor bodies are biased toward each other.

  The present invention relates to reducing the susceptibility of such scroll compressor installation and electrical coupling.

  In one aspect, the present invention provides a compressor for fluid compression having a terminal block for electrical connection. The compressor connects power to the drive unit to allow operation of the compression unit, a drive unit that operates to drive the compression unit to compress fluid, a protection module, and the compression unit. And a power connector. The terminal block provides a connection to at least one of the protection module and the power connector. At least one power lead connects the terminal block and the power connector.

  Another aspect relates to a method for electrically configuring a compressor using a terminal block for a user interface. The method includes mounting a compression portion and a drive unit within a housing, wherein the drive unit is operative to drive the compression portion to allow compression of fluid, the compression portion and drive within the housing. Attaching the unit; connecting the power connector to the drive unit; and electrically connecting the protection module to the drive unit. The method further includes electrically connecting the terminal block to at least one of the protection module and the power connector.

  The present invention realizes further aspects or advantages when various electrical configurations are provided across different compressors based on design changes, redesigns, model differences, and other desirable reasons. Can do. In such cases, the method also includes placing or configuring at least one of the protection module and the power connector across at least two different compressors; and at least 2 so that any changes are apparent to the user. Maintaining the common lead wire configuration of the terminal block between the two different compressors.

  Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

  The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate multiple aspects of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view of a scroll compressor assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the electrical components within the electrical control box are schematically shown and shown schematically coupled together.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the scroll compressor assembly control box as viewed through the opening according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the scroll compressor assembly control box as viewed through the opening, according to a different embodiment of the present invention.

  While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. .

  Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention is shown as a scroll compressor assembly 10, and a generic terminal block 38 is schematically shown in the control box 14.

  Before touching the details of the electrical configuration achieved by the generalized terminal block 38, some of the background relating to the illustrated scroll compressor assembly will be described for reference purposes, although the present invention is not limited to other compressor configurations. Needless to say, this is applicable. The illustrated scroll compressor assembly 10 is typically made of an outer housing 16 (a plurality of sheet metal shell sections) containing a plurality of scroll compressor bodies including a fixed scroll compressor body 18 and a movable scroll compressor body 20. )including. The drive unit configured using the electric motor 22 is provided to drive the movable scroll compressor body 20 relative to the fixed scroll compressor body 18 to enable fluid compression. As such, the plurality of scroll compressor bodies include respective bases 24 and respective scroll ribs 26 that project from the respective bases to form a chamber for compressing fluid and engage each other about an axis. Have. The electric motor 22 operates to provide a rotational output to the drive shaft 28, which provides an eccentric eccentricity that provides the orbiting motion to the movable scroll compressor body 20 that is eccentric relative to the fixed scroll compressor body 18. A drive section 30 is included. The plurality of scroll compressor bodies provide the compressor section of the compressor, while the electric motor provides the scroll compressor drive.

  The control box 14 is attached to the outside of the housing 16. Through holes 32 through the housing, the electrical leads pass between the electric motor 22 in the scroll compressor, reach the electrical control box 14 and allow power to be supplied to the scroll compressor for the power supply. .

  Various electric devices are provided in the control box 14. The control box 14 includes a power supply connector 34 for connecting electric power to the electric motor, thereby operating the electric motor and consequently the scroll compression unit. In addition, the power connector provides a seal that prevents the refrigerant in the outer housing 16 from leaking out and prevents outside air from entering in a normal state. Furthermore, a control lead wire (for example, a lead wire that transmits an on / off signal or various control signals) can be connected (received), and has a function of protecting the electric motor 22 and the scroll compressor from short circuit, power surge, and overheating. A protection module 36 is provided that is used to properly provide other suitable power states. In accordance with the present invention, the terminal block 38 is provided spaced from the power connector 34 and the protection module 36, as schematically shown in FIG. 1 and as shown in more detail in the embodiment shown in FIG. It is connected to at least one of the protection module 36 and the power connector 34, preferably both.

  Referring to FIG. 2, the terminal block 38 can be attached to a generally rectangular wall 40 of the control box 14 (eg, the wall 40 protrudes in a direction generally away from the scroll compressor housing 16). This attachment can be performed by bonding, fastening, welding, brazing, or the like. Preferably, the terminal block 38 is in a position in front of both the power connector 34 and the protection module 36 in the direction seen from the open end 42 of the control box 14 defined by the free end of the control box wall 40. Provided.

  The terminal block 38 typically includes an insulator 44 provided as a rectangular strip (long strip) and a plurality of screw clamps 46 arranged in two rows (rows), adjacent screw clamps 46 (each row). (A row to one clamp) are electrically coupled together or electrically conducted through metal contact strips. As shown, terminal block 38 includes a total of ten screw clamps 46 and five screw clamps in each row (row). The screw clamp provides an electrical connection for connection to a control lead or power lead.

  As shown in the figure, the terminal block 38 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is electrically connected to both the power connector 34 and the protection module 36 via electrical leads. Therefore, two protection module lead wires 48 for connecting the terminal block and the protection module using half of the screw clamps; and three power lead wires 50 to 52 for connecting the terminal block and the power connector. Configured at the factory (before product shipment) to include connections. Although each protection module lead wire 48 may be provided in a common color such as light blue, each of the power lead wires 50, 51, 52 is different corresponding to a wiring destination to be wired by an engineer who performs electrical work. It may be provided in the color. For example, white power leads 50, red power leads 51, and amber power leads 52 are provided by different shading lines used for different wires in the embodiment shown in FIG. Show.

  The technician performing the electrical work will now route control leads 54 that typically extend through the perforations in the wall 40 of the control box 14 to the terminal block and provide an external electrical connection to the protection module 36, and Appropriate external power supply leads 56 are connected to the power connector 34 by individually wiring the terminal block 38. An electrical engineer can use the color codes provided by the power leads 50, 51 and 52 to properly connect the power lead 56 by identifying the corresponding color (eg, external power lead). Each of the lines 56 may be a color corresponding to one of the power leads 50-52).

  One of the notable advantages of using the terminal block 38 in the control box 14 is that different changes to the control box configuration and / or the protection module 36 and / or in the control box, since any changes will be apparent to the user. The arrangement of the power connector 34 does not affect the electrical mounting (installation). Specifically, it can be seen that different arrangements and configurations within the control box 114 are provided by different arrangements of the power connector 134 and the protection module 136, as shown in a further embodiment shown in FIG. By using the same color code and terminal block 138 in this configuration, which is the second embodiment, the two different compressor embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 provide a common lead configuration. . However, in the further embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the terminal block 138 is initially provided only with power leads between the power connector 134 and the terminal block 138, and the power leads 150, 151 and 152 are It is provided so that the wiring is completed at the factory (before the product is shipped). This leaves three free (no lead wires) screw clamps 146 that can be used by electrical engineers to connect and attach the power lead 156 to the terminal block 138. Similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the control box 114 shown in FIG. 3 is mounted outside the housing of the scroll compressor.

  Although not shown in FIG. 3, it is also possible to maintain the same arrangement of terminal blocks between two different compressors. For example, the terminal block 138 can be mounted at the same position as the terminal block 38 of the embodiment shown in FIG.

  The clarity for the end user, such as an electrician performing the electrical work, achieved by the terminal blocks 38, 138 of the different embodiments is the mistake among the electrician performing the electric work and the electrician performing the electric work. This will prevent mistakes in the wiring and connection method of the scroll compressor. As a result, any changes to the scroll compressor and / or devices and / or wiring within the control box will not be difficult. By adding additional components to the terminal block, electrical connections and configurations can be simplified.

  All publications, publications, patent applications and patents cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein in their entirety, as if each reference was specifically and individually listed and incorporated by reference. Incorporated as if to quote.

  The use of nouns and similar directives used in connection with the description of the present invention (especially in connection with the claims below) is not specifically pointed out herein or clearly contradicted by context. , And construed to cover both singular and plural. The phrases “comprising”, “having”, “including” and “including” are to be interpreted as open-ended terms (ie, meaning “including but not limited to”), unless otherwise specified. The use of numerical ranges in this specification is intended only to serve as a shorthand for referring individually to each value falling within that range, unless otherwise indicated herein. Each value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually listed herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. Any examples or exemplary phrases used herein (eg, “etc.”) are intended only to better describe the invention, unless otherwise stated, and to limit the scope of the invention. is not. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the invention.

  In the present specification, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described, including the best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention. Variations of these preferred embodiments will become apparent to those skilled in the art after reading the above description. The present inventor expects skilled workers to apply such modifications as appropriate, and intends to implement the present invention in a manner other than that specifically described herein. . Accordingly, this invention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in all variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

10 Scroll compressor assembly 14 Control box 16 Outer housing 18 Fixed scroll compressor body (scroll compressor body)
20 Movable scroll compressor body (scroll compressor body)
22 Electric motor (drive unit)
24 Base (scroll compressor body)
26 Scroll rib (scroll compressor body)
28 Drive shaft 32 hole (outer housing)
34 power connector 36 protection module 38 terminal block 40 wall (control box)
42 Open end (control box)
44 Insulator (terminal block)
46 Screw clamp (terminal block)
48 protection module lead wire 50 power lead wire 51 power lead wire 52 power lead wire 54 control lead wire 56 external power lead wire 114 control box 134 power connector 136 protection module 138 terminal block 150 power lead wire 151 power lead wire 152 power lead wire 156 Power lead

Claims (17)

A compression section;
A drive unit that operates to drive the compression section to compress the fluid;
With a protection module;
A power connector for connecting power to the drive unit to allow operation of the compression section;
A terminal block providing a connection to at least one of the protection module and the power connector;
At least one power supply lead connecting the terminal block and the power connector;
Compressor for fluid compression.   The compressor is a scroll compressor, and the scroll compressor includes a housing that houses a plurality of scroll compressor bodies and the drive unit, and the plurality of scroll compressor bodies include respective base portions and the respective base portions. And each scroll rib engaging each other around an axis to compress fluid, the drive unit allowing relative movement between the plurality of scroll compressor bodies The compressor of claim 1, which operates as follows.   The compressor according to claim 2, further comprising a control box carried outside the housing, wherein the control box stores the protection module, the power connector, and the terminal block.   The compressor according to claim 3, wherein the terminal block is attached to a housing of the control box.   The compressor according to claim 4, wherein the terminal block is relatively attached to the front side of the protection module and the power connector as viewed from an opening end of the control box.   The compressor according to claim 4, further comprising at least one protection module lead wire connecting the terminal block and the protection module.   6. The compressor according to claim 5, wherein two protection module lead wires connect the terminal block and the protection module, and three power supply lead wires connect the terminal block and the power connector.   The compressor according to claim 7, wherein the terminal block includes two free electrical couplings connected to a control lead and three free electrical couplings connected to the power supply lead.   The compressor according to claim 1, wherein the terminal block includes an insulator and a plurality of screw clamps arranged in two rows. Mounting the compression section and the drive unit in the housing, wherein the drive unit is operably provided to drive the compression section to enable compression of the fluid; Mounting in the housing;
Connecting a power connector to the drive unit;
Electrically connecting a protection module to the drive unit;
Electrically connecting a terminal block to at least one of the protection module and the power connector;
A method of manufacturing a compressor. Placing or configuring at least one of the protection module and the power connector across at least two different compressors;
Maintaining a common lead configuration for the terminal block between the at least two different compressors so that any changes are apparent to the user;
The method of claim 10. Maintaining the same arrangement of the terminal blocks between the at least two different compressors so that any changes are clear to the user;
The method of claim 11. Electrically coupling an external power source to the terminal block;
Electrically coupling a control signal source to the terminal block;
The method of claim 10. Attaching a control box to the housing;
Receiving the protection module, the terminal block, and the power connector in the control box;
The method of claim 10.   The method according to claim 14, further comprising attaching the terminal block to the control box at a position relatively to the front side of the power connector and the protection module as viewed from the opening of the control box.   The compression unit is provided as a scroll compression unit, and the scroll compression unit is a plurality of scroll compressor bodies, each having a base and a respective scroll rib protruding from the base, and compresses a fluid. A plurality of scroll compressor bodies configured to engage with each other about an axis so that the drive unit allows relative movement between the plurality of scroll compressor bodies 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the method is operably provided.   The method of claim 10, further comprising electrically connecting the terminal block to both the protection module and the power connector.

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